My Makeup Faves from 2012
Now that the year is coming to an end, I thought it would a great opportunity to share my favorite makeup products from 2012!
Since I’ve been in Shanghai the entire year, most of my makeup favorites are my staples that I always loved. And I have some new favorites that were either recommended or gifted to me! I’m so excited to share with you my favorites of the year.
SUNSCREEN:
Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Sunblock:
I bought this while I was visiting the BFF in America and I normally buy the regular Neutrogena sun blocks but I have to say that I love this one. It’s a bit thick but I love that the SPF is high, there is no scent and it doesn’t irritate my skin.
EYE PRIMER:
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion:
I wonder if having monolids have anything to do with my makeup running off my face all the time. I started using this years ago and it’s been by far the BEST primer for my eyes. I’ve tried others but after a while, my makeup would end up on my cheeks. A tube of this lasts me all year!
EYESHADOW:
My SIL convinced me to buy this and I am so glad that I did. Believe it or not, I bought this before Shanghai and I am still using it! The colors in this palette are great for every occasion. The shadows are pigmented, creamy and are sooooooo blend-able. I love that it’s all in one place, easy to travel with and I’ve been using this everyday. I say the EASE of this palette is what makes it my favorite!
Drug store fave: Loreal Infallible Shadows (They are amazing for the price!)
EYELINER:
Milani Liquif’eye: This is an amazing, creamy eyeliner that can be bought at a drugstore. I think I bought mine on sale for “Buy one get one”. Instead of using this directly on my eyes, I use a eyeliner brush and it feels like those expensive, cream liners!
High end fave: Lancome Artliner, My best friend gifted this to me for Christmas and it is SO EASY to use. It’s the only liquid liner that has been fool proof for me.
Bronzer:
Guerlain Terracotta: There are some days I only wear this. Whenever I wear this, people say I have a glow, I look radiant and I always get complimented on my skin. I am still using the same compact from two years ago, this lasts forever. It’s definitely super expensive but I got it through a discount. I don’t know if I can shell out that much money for this once it runs out so I’ll have to get a discount again. 
I haven’t found a drug store brand that has matched this but I’m sure there are plenty out there that others like!
Foundation:
Oh dear. My SIL has done it again, I have never bought foundation or felt that I really needed it. However, I have noticed that when we go out to nicer places or having our pictures taken… I wish my skin was a little bit more even. I read her review and saw the pictures but I didn’t believe her. (I don’t know why, she’s always been right with makeup! haha)
So the hubs and I go to Bloomingdales and I stopped by the Armani counter to try their Maestro Foundation. I was fully expecting to not be impressed skin my skin is usually clear and I have a few freckles, redness but nothing to bother me.
It was A HUGE MISTAKE. YOU KNOW WHY?
I fell in love with my skin! I had a beautiful, even (but natural) skin tone. The redness around my nose, edges of my lips and all of my sun freckles were gone! The foundation melted into my skin and lasted all day, no smearing… I swear I felt like I had NO makeup on. It was an impulse buy but I don’t wear it every day and pregnancy has made my skin a little unpredictable. Can I also say that every foundation that I have ever tried, melts off my face in just a few minutes. This stayed on my face all day and never rubbed off!
Oh my goodness…. I am IN LOVE with this. (and high five to the SIL, you were right!!!)
LIPS:
Any and all of the Burt’s Bees products! I love their regular lip balm and I have one in my purse at all times. The times I want a little color, I use their tinted lip balms and it provides just enough color for me. They are inexpensive and my lips love them. (I also love those Revlon lip butters!)
As far as other products: mascara, blush, etc… I have been using drug store products or gifts with purchases. Mascaras are SOOOO expensive and can’t last, I used to use Dior Show when I had a discount but I don’t anymore and it’s just not worth the hefty price tag to me. Plus drug store makeup is amazing now a days! (ELF blush anyone? They’re amazing!)
I definitely have a lot of makeup that I use but these are my go to products.
What are some of your favorites??
I want to try that foundation SO BAD but I’m scared I’ll fall in love and I go through foundation way too quickly to spend that much on it! I do need to try that eye primer, though. My eyeshadow slides off after an hour…totally pointless to even apply it. If that stuff works, I’ll get it!!
A few of my faves (all drugstore/Ulta): Revlon ColorStay Aqua feels soooooo goood when you put it on, it has great coverage, and it stays put. The only thing is, it has to be applied with a foundation brush to look good, not that tiny useless brush that comes with it. NYX high def face powder – inexpensive and I love it! NYC lip stains – like markers for your lips.
Omg Layla, don’t try it! That foundation is the DEVIL. haha But if you do, you only need two TINY drops for the entire face. I actually don’t use foundation everyday and only use it on days I’m going out (with friends/dinners etc) so it should last me quite a while. I did hear that Color Stay is AMAZING!!!! I might have to try it next to save me some moola.
That eye primer is the BEST. I have tried Too Face/Smashbox and other brands and nothing works but that UD one.
A tube actually lasts me all year because you only need a small amount. And I use that every day!
ohh. I so want the UD Naked palette but as a girl who doesn’t know how to apply eyeshadow (I’m still learning), it’s a bit on the pricey side. But oooh. SO pretty!
My faves include… The Revlon Lip Butters. Like tinted chapstick but it’s a lipstick. I love the colours. I’m also a fan of argan oil for my hair. I’ve also started using BB cream. It doesn’t matter which brand. I love the concept. So much better than foundation.
Yes, it is PRICEY but you get so many shadows that it actually ends up being the same price as drug store eyeshadows in the end. But if you’re just learning to apply eyeshadow, you def don’t need this.
I’m an eyeshadow QUEEN, can’t live without it… maybe cuz I have monolids? 
Oh YES – - I love those lip butters, they are literally like butter and feel great. My favorite color has been Peach Parfait and a raspberry color (I forgot the name). I used to use BB cream but it slips and slides all over my face.
I think my skin doesn’t absorb it very well. But my friends LOVEEEEEEEE BB cream. I gave all mine to a friend since I couldn’t use it.
I have monolid eyes too… I just don’t know how to put it on. I mean, I keep reading and watching tutorials and they keep talking about a crease. I don’t got one of those! And once I open my eyes, I almost want to ask what was the point. It all disappears.
I can’t follow any of those tutorials! I don’t do anything about a crease LOL cuz I don’t have one! I had the same problem with the eyeshadow disappearing. I use neutral colors to add color to my lid, up to where the top of my eyeballs are. Then I use darker shadow on the outer V, so there is some depth to my eyes… more than other people using shadow to fill in their crease. (sigh, lucky them that it’s so easy!) usually it’s not enough that people can notice that I’m wearing makeup but it’s enough to make me look more polished. If I’m going out then I use brown or black eyeliner right up against my lashes (to make them look thicker, not to show a line so much) and use a dark brown shadow to line the outer half of my bottom lashes. I don’t know if any of this made sense. LOL but this is how I do my makeup after many years of failed makeup!
I love the Lancome Artliner eyeliner! I use it often so it’s worth the splurge. I tried other brands including some more expensive ones but still find the Lancome one the best. I bought the Sephora mascara sampler. I haven’t found a favorite of them yet but I like that I can try different mascaras without spending full price on them.